Courthouse security measure voted down

Wednesday

Apr 24, 2013 at 8:22 AMApr 24, 2013 at 8:22 AM

By Andy Barrand

andy.barrand@hillsdale.net

HILLSDALE — To prove a point about courthouse security, Hillsdale resident Ted Jansen walked into Tuesday’s Hillsdale County Commissioners meeting with a bag containing a toy squirt gun, a razor blade and a can of ether — all items which could be used as weapons.

During the public comment portion of the meeting he informed the commissioners of what was in the bag, pulling out the toy squirt gun to show the commissioners.

Upon informing the board of the items, Chairman John Burtka warned Jansen that he was not allowed to have weapons inside the courthouse.

“There is no security here,” Jansen said. “There is a great need to have security here.”

Jansen regularly attends the commissioners meetings, and has been pushing for more security at the courthouse.

After proving his point Jansen left the courthouse and didn’t stay for the remaining portion of the meeting.

The issue of courthouse security was addressed by the commissioners during Commissioner Mark Wiley’s report.

Wiley presented the board with motion to move forward with courthouse security issues. In his motion Wiley proposed moving the metal detector, which is occasionally used by Superior Court, to the first floor. The motion called for the locking of all entrances to the courthouse except for the southeast entrance, specifying that anyone entering the courthouse would have to enter through that entrance, through the metal detector which would be manned by the courthouse bailiff.

The only time the door would not be manned would be when the bailiff had other duties.

Wiley said at this point the Sheriff’s Department couldn’t man it during all hours of the day.

Commissioner Brad Benzing raised the most concern about the motion during discussion.

“We don’t have a problem here,” Benzing said. “What we are proposing is putting lipstick on pig. It poses a false sense of security.”

The motion didn’t address any security precautions at the Courthouse Annex, which Benzing also took exception with.

“All legal action starts at that building,” he said. “The prosecuting attorney’s office and department of corrections are over there.”

Wiley went on to ask Benzing if he would rather attend a funeral and be reactive instead of proactive.

“We have to take it one step forward at a time,” Wiley said.

After the discussion the motion failed 4-1 with Wiley casting the only yes vote.

Chairman Burtka said he was concerned and something needed to be done, but not to this level.

All of the commissioners agreed that something needed to be done, but could not concur as to what extent.

The commissioners will continue to take a look at courthouse security in the coming months.